This VIRAL grinder salad recipe is loaded with crisp iceberg lettuce, salami, ham, provolone cheese, banana peppers, tomatoes, and a creamy grinder dressing. It’s everything you love about an Italian grinder sandwich in fresh salad form!
There was only one sandwich shop for me growing up, and it was not Subway. Sorry. Blimpie was my jam and when we saw Grinder sandwiches popping up everywhere we decided to hop on the viral trend and go Grinder Salad! The sandwich without the bread is the best dang thing I brought to the summer BBQ!
The first bite instantly took me back to standing in line at Blimpie trying to decide which sandwich was worth spending my babysitting money on. It’s crunchy, creamy, tangy, savory, and completely addictive.
This grinder salad takes everything you love about an Italian grinder sandwich and turns it into a fresh, crunchy salad that somehow manages to be both light and indulgent at the same time. It’s the perfect recipe for summer BBQs, easy lunches, potlucks, and those nights when it’s too hot to turn on the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Grinder Salad
- All the flavors of a classic grinder sandwich
- Perfect low-carb alternative to a grinder sub
- Loaded with crunchy, creamy, tangy textures
- Easy to make ahead for parties and BBQs
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Packed with protein
- Always the first bowl emptied at potlucks
- That creamy grinder dressing is absolutely irresistible
Ingredients You’ll Need
This grinder salad uses simple deli ingredients and a creamy homemade dressing to create all the flavors of your favorite sandwich in salad form.
Dressing
- Mayonnaise: Creates the rich, creamy base for the signature grinder dressing.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds bright tanginess that balances the richness of the mayo.
- Banana Pepper Juice: Brings zippy flavor and gives the dressing its classic grinder taste.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds savory herb flavor throughout the dressing.
- Garlic Powder: Delivers subtle garlic flavor without overpowering the salad.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and ties everything together.
Salad
- Iceberg Lettuce: Crisp, crunchy, and sturdy enough to hold up to the creamy dressing.
- Salami: Adds bold, savory flavor and classic deli sandwich goodness.
- Deli Ham: Brings salty, smoky flavor and extra protein.
- Provolone: Creamy, mild cheese that perfectly complements the meats.
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This Crispy Greek Pasta Salad takes everything we love about a classic Greek pasta salad—crisp vegetables, salty feta, briny olives, and a tangy homemade dressing—and adds crispy air-fried pasta for the most incredible crunch. I’m absolutely obsessed! It’s fresh, flavorful, and honestly one of the best pasta salads I’ve made in a long time.
If you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ve probably seen the viral crispy pasta salad trend taking over. And while I love trying a viral recipe, I wanted to make a version I’d actually crave again and again so I used our popular Greek pasta salad as a starting point.
The first time I made it, I couldn’t stop sneaking bites straight from the bowl. The crispy pasta completely changes the texture and somehow makes an already great pasta salad even better.
Why You’ll Love This Crispy Greek Pasta Salad
- The perfect mix of crunchy and creamy
- Inspired by the viral crispy pasta trend
- Packed with fresh Greek flavors
- Easy air fryer recipe
- Great for summer gatherings
- Perfect side dish for grilling season
- Make-ahead friendly
- Loaded with vegetables
- A fun twist on classic Greek pasta salad
- Better than traditional pasta salad
Ingredients You’ll Need
This crispy Greek pasta salad uses many of the same ingredients as our traditional Greek pasta salad, but with one game-changing addition: crispy air-fried pasta. The combination of fresh vegetables, tangy dressing, salty feta, and crunchy pasta creates the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
For the Greek Dressing:
- Olive Oil: Creates a rich, flavorful base for the dressing.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds the classic tangy Greek flavor.
- Garlic: Brings bold savory flavor.
- Tzatziki: Makes the dressing creamy while adding fresh cucumber and herb flavor.
- Lemon Zest: Brightens every bite.
- Dried Oregano: A classic Greek seasoning.
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Enhances all the flavors.
For the Pasta Salad:
- Rotini Pasta: The spirals hold onto the dressing while crisping beautifully in the air fryer.
- Pesto: Adds fresh herb flavor and helps the pasta crisp up.
- Parmesan Cheese: Creates extra savory flavor and helps develop crispy edges.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps the pasta